How I started running

I was never a runner naturally. I ran for sports growing up but could never complete runs in PE in middle school because I would get terrible side cramps, this continued on in high school even though I was a size 0. I guess I mention my size because everyone assumes that because a person is skinny they are a runner or have no problems with it. I remember coming in dead last when we had to run a timed mile. The teacher was so disappointed in the fact that I couldn't run the entire thing. I have now learned that I was starting out way to fast and I wasn't pacing myself.
When my husband and I were dating we would occasionally go to the gym together and work out and run a lap or two but I would quickly become too tired to go any further because I was keeping my husband's pace. I did notice that my endurance was slowly building and it gave me a small glimpse that made me start to know I could run
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Fast forward four years of no running I started asking runners how to start and the best advise I got was to start out slow. I headed to the gym with my husband and said I am going to see if I can run a mile on the track (10 laps) today. I went very slow and kept my heart rate down, my run was very awkward and almost straight up and down so that I could control my speed. The minute I started going too fast my run would suffer and I felt like I couldn't continue. I made it a full mile that day and I was so happy with myself!
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I began to run on a local trail occasionally with a friend who had some background running. She was faster than I was but she hadn't run a ton since she had her little girl so she agreed to go slow with me. The biggest key for me was figuring out what heart rate level my body wasn't comfortable going above, for me it was in the 140's at the time. I am able to keep track of my heart rate with my heart rate monitor, please click here for more info. Other than
proper shoes (get fitted at a running store, click here for my experience buying shoes) this has been the biggest key to my success. As hard as it was I had to keep my pace painfully slow I had to so that I could run more than a few steps. Once my heart rate got to 145 I was completely out of steam and would have to walk again. We continued for about a month but I don't think it was really constant. I did get all the way to running 1.5 miles straight at least once. It was great to have her along with me but I always felt like I was holding her back. I also think we had different mindsets, I wanted to try and run as far as I could but also get in four miles of distance total with walking. She would often want to turn around 1 or 1.5 miles in. She also found out that summer that she was pregnant again and they moved out of our neighborhood so our time on the trail stopped. I ran occasionally at the gym on the treadmill and I think that it has helped get my endurance up. I didn't stick with it though because I didn't love it.
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I started again outside on my favorite trail this March. I wasn't constant at first and I started out walking a 16 minute mile for 4 miles but slowly I am building up again. In the running book I am reading it says that you have to love something about running to keep you coming back. I love the trail that I am running on! I have decided it is my favorite place to spend an hour almost everyday. Even though I have been running the same 4 miles it changes everyday. I love actually noticing spring and how the plants change everyday. I love knowing every bend in the trail and what is coming up next. It is always great to know when a half mile marker is just ahead so that you can press on just a little farther.
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Now that my endurance is getting better I am able to go a little faster (no longer painfully slow) and get my heart rate up to 84% comfortably (about 166). I actually know my body well enough now to know when it is at 74% (the spot where I slow down to before I start to run again) and 84% without looking at my watch. I also know that I want to stop when my heart rate hits 69%, no idea why though.
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I never have the same goals in mind two days in a row. One day it will be to run every other half mile others it will be to keep my heart rate between the two points no matter how long or short that may be. On days were I am just lucky to have made it out of bed it may be to add a mile but walk the entire way.
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Yesterday I ran the first half a mile and walked on and off the next bit, mostly walking. I was determined to push myself and run the entire last mile though. I hadn't done this yet since I started again and I knew I was up for it but it maybe rough at the end. I did it though on a day that I was just happy that I made it out in the nasty weather. It ended up lightly raining on me the last mile and a half. It was after this four miles that I officially decided I am a runner!
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If this left you feeling encouraged to start running just remember to go slow. If you are running where others are notice how they are going slow and pacing themselves. It may be weird at first but you will quickly see that you will be able to go farther.